{More about A Bride for All Seasons}

Melvin Hitchcock of the Hitching Post Mail Order Bride Catalog isn’t dishonest—not exactly. If he tweaks his clients’ applications a bit, it’s because he’s looking out for their best interests.

This charming bouquet of novellas introduces four Hitching Post prospects in the year 1870, each one eager for second chances . . . and hungry for happiness. Year in, year out, they’ll learn that love often comes in unexpected packages.

And Then Came Spring by Margaret Brownley
Mary-Jo has been unlucky all her life. But who would guess she’d travel halfway across the country to meet her match . . . only to find him dead!

An Ever-After Summer by Debra Clopton
Ellie had no idea she’s not what Matthew ordered. And what’s wrong with being a “Bible thumper” anyway? She’s determined to show him she’s tougher than she looks—and just the girl he needs.

Autumn’s Angel by Robin Lee Hatcher
Luvena would be perfect for Clay if she didn’t come with kids. But kids are a deal breaker, especially in a rough-and-trouble mining town. The trouble is, there’s no money to send them back. . .

Winter Wedding Bells by Mary Connealy
David’s convinced he’s not long for the world. He needs someone to mother his boys when he’s gone—nothing more. Can plucky Irish Megan convince him to work at living instead of dying?

{More About Brownley, Hatcher, Connealy, Clopton :}

**Margaret Brownley is a NEW YORK TIMES best-selling author and has penned more than thirty novels. Her books have won numerous awards and has written for a TV soap opera. @margaretbrownley

**Robin Lee Hatcher is a Christy and RITA award-winning author. She is the author of over seventy novels and her work often appear on bestseller lists. @robinleehatcher

**Mary Connealy is an award-winning author of romantic comedy with cowboys. Mary and her Nebraska rancher husband have four grown daughters and two spectacular grandchildren. @MaryConnealy

**Debra Clopton is an award winning author of sweet, heartfelt, western romance that face life with a smile. With over 2 million books in print, Debra’s first book-to-movie aired on ABC Family and starred LeAnn Rimes. @debraclopton

LOVED THE SPONTANEITY!

A Bride for All Seasons: The Mail Order Bride Collection is an instant favorite of mine, because all four novels are bundled into one paperback. The authors are different for each book, so I never got bored. I hope the publisher considers doing more collections like this one. This is a fun, spunky set of novels that had me laughing my way through the 1890′s. It’s light and enjoyable — perfect as a vacation treat. I highly recommend it and would like to thank the authors and publishers for the chance to review A Bride for All Seasons.

I enjoyed this book as a light read before bedtime when I wanted to unwind a little. The stories were interesting enough to hold my attention and I found the characters very likable. Robin Lee Hatcher has been one of my favorite authors for years now, so I generally like her writing style. The other writers were new to me, but I liked them as well. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction romance with a redeeming Christian message.Written by Embracing Destiny on July 26, 2013 | e

A WRITER’S REVIEW OF A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS

I’m not usually one to read novellas, but after seeing the list of authors for the collaboration called A Bride for All Seasons, I thought it was about time I give them a try. I had to gear myself for the shorter stories, for what I usually LOVE are the long, complex books that might see everything in the whole story world change and have much more drastic character arcs. But that didn’t mean I didn’t end up enjoying these four short novellas. They were all very good for what they were… and I’ll probably give more novellas a chance now that I’ve read this book.

My personal favorite was Robin Lee Hatcher’s “Autumn Angel”. I would have LOVED to see this plot written into a full length book!

A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS

love when authors collaborate and write connected novels or novellas, and this is a particularly fun set of stories. I was more familiar with Mary Connealy and Robin Lee Hatcher before I began reading but equally enjoyed all four of these tales. . . .

FOUR ENJOYABLE NOVELLAS

“A Bride for All Seasons” is a lovely anthology by four very gifted storytellers. Each tale is set during a different season of the year 1870, but all are about mail-order brides in search of a second chance who have used the Hitching Post catalogue to find a groom. What each of these couples don’t know is that Melvin Hitchcock edits the advertisements and letters in his catalogue to make them more “marketable”. This makes for some intriguing twists in these entertaining tales.

QUICK, FUN READS THAT WERE A NICE ESCAPE

The heroines are all strong women that have been propelled into a new life in order to survive physically or emotionally. There is a mixture of which lead character is strong spiritually – the hero or heroine; but in the end it all works out, of course. The situations range from people just making ends meet, hard-workers, entrepreneurs, and even a quite wealthy man. The women are outwardly confident and accomplished; although each has their flaw to keep things real and interesting. The children involved in each match are often used as a catalyst for the match.

Are they predictable with a “happy ever after” ending? Yes. Did I like that? Yes. If I want unpredictable with tough times I can look around in real life; for my relaxing times I want things to be all wrapped up with a pretty bow on

A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS

I enjoyed this Christian historical fiction book. There are four novellas in the book. They are all sweet and well written. Melvin Hitchcock is the owner and editor of The Hitching Post Mail-Order Bride Catalogue. He is the one who reads the letters of potential bride and grooms. In these stories he changes and leaves out some important things to match the couples up. The couples are not aware of these changes until they meet. In the end it works out okay and the couples stay together. The in between are good stories with interesting plots and characters. There are several fun and hilarious moments in with the serious. Recommended especially for fans of Christian historical fiction.

A LOVELY READ

While I loved all the stories, I think An Ever-After Summer was my favorite. Spunky Ellie just resonated with me as the kind of character I would be in a story like this and she tugged at my heartstrings. Every story was full of twists and surprises you didn’t see coming and that kept me eager to keep reading. Also, every story was a great length that I could finish it in one setting – a plus in my sometimes time harried life. I loved how every writer could work from a similar premise and yet come away with four such unique stories. All in all, if you like clean romance, especially historical romance, you should definitely pick up this book. It will have you laughing and crying and rooting for the characters to get together in every story.

This was a book I just knew I had to read! Loved the plot, the quirky characters and the story of women who had great courage. The book flowed well even though there are four different authors and they all mix together into several funny and interesting stories. Loved the book!

FOUR WONDERFUL STORIES ABOUT MAIL ORDER BRIDES IN ONE AMAZING COLLECTION!

Each of these wonderful historical romances are short enough to get through when you have a little time but want the effect of a full length novel. These introduce the reader wonderfully to the historical romance authors that are showcased in this collection. There is something off on the ads that each recipient answers and the truth is bound to be discovered sooner or later. In each of these, ultimately it takes time and patience to show that God has plans in everything in our lives whether we know it or not. I rate this one hands down a full 5 out of 5 stars just based on the different perspectives you gain from each author taking their turn at a common topic, in this case, mail order brides and can’t wait for the next collection coming soon, Four Weddings and A Kiss.

A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS

It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed an anthology as much as I enjoyed this one! I liked that the stories are connected only because all of the characters used the same mail-order bride catalog, so different authors don’t have to try to write the same characters. Each novella can be read in an hour or so, making them a nice way to wind down after a long day.

A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS

A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS

I love this book so much! What a wonderful collection of Mail-Order Bride stories!! So fun and so funny and sweet. Loved the mismatched couples & Hitchcocks ad tweaking…lol. Couldn’t pick a fave, I love them all!!

HIGHLY ENJOYABLE

This book is a keeper. This will warm any historical romantic lover’s hearts who’s time is limited, and who doesn’t want to sacrifice quality of story. Each short story has its own drama, its own issues that keep the readers interest and will prod them to read on. Heroines that won’t quit. Heroes that you sigh over, cowboys, and the wild west. All written by some of the best talent on the market!

A FUN SUMMER READ!

This book was perfect timing, as I just attended a beautiful wedding….definitely not a mail order bride wedding!

Can you imagine living in the day of mail order brides? Maybe people were more flexible back then, but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t take kindly to being a mail order bride…but then again, it was a lot about survival.

Each of the 4 novella’s are short and sweet, well, maybe not all sweet…there are a few struggles as can be expected, but they are all very enjoyable reads. I was fun to read of 4 different couples, all with 4 different situations, yet so similar.

A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS

This was a charming set of novellas that I thoroughly enjoyed. All the authors did great jobs and even though they were novellas, I didn’t think they were rushed and they told great stories. Not sure which one was really my favorite, I liked them all. They all had great faith elements in them also. I thought it was funny that Mr. Hitchcock changed the letters to get the couples together. He was a real matchmaker. Each couple had written to the “Hitching Post” to find a mate, but ended up finding true love, all in God’s timing. Great job to all of the wonderful authors in this collection of novellas.

A GREAT GROUP OF AUTHORS AND NOVELLAS!

Each bride and groom’s ad has been changed by the editor of the Mail Order Catalog so that when they meet they are not what each expected….but God has control of every situation and has a plan for each couple. It is fun to watch each story unfold and their love develop even through obstacles and opposite personalities!

Each story and bride is very different but all have the hope of love and I loved getting to know each story and all the characters! I loved being in the Mail Order brides shoes without actually having to be a mail order bride!

HUMOROUS MAIL ORDER BRIDES ANTHOLOGY

The subject of mail order brides has always been an interesting one to me. It is difficult for me to fathom traveling across the country to marry a man one has never met. What circumstances would induce a young woman to do such a thing? “A Bride For All Seasons” tackles that question a total of four times. What a treat it was to read each story, all of which were penned by familiar and favorite authors.

A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS | 12-DAY UNEXPECTED PACKAGES GIVEAWAY! ENTER

What a great combination of authors all in one book! I wanted to read this book mostly because of Robin Lee Hatcher. I love her writing and her story, Autumn’s Angel was wonderful, but I really liked all of the stories in this book. It was nice to get a taste of the writing of the other authors who I may not read as often as I do Robin. I didn’t read all of the stories straight through. I was reading them while reading other books, so I enjoyed coming back to the book to start a new story.

I don’t usually read novella collections, but this was a nice change of pace for summertime reading. The mail-order bride concept is not a new one for Christian fiction and I have read a lot of books that revolve around that storyline. I wanted something a little bit different and these stories were pretty typical of what I have read before, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I liked each story found them all to be light and relaxing, so it was very worthwhile. I am just ready for something different. My favorite thing about this book was each story taking place during a different season. I love that in a story.

CLEAN CHRISTIAN ROMANCE BOOK

I’ve always wondered what type of person would be drawn to the idea of a mail-order bride. Reading this book reminded me of the circumstances that women faced a century ago. In the end, each of the four stories tells of redemption, faith, and unexpected love.

COLLECTION OF NOVELLAS AND GIVEWAYS!! BOOK REVIEW – “A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS”

Each of these four stories is a sweet love story that is entertaining, filled with second changes or moving forward in one’s life and a nice, clean story. Each of the four authors bring alive the time period and transport the reader back to a time period of survival and starting over and seeking out brides (and grooms) through the means of mail order.

A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is four individual tales of Mail-Order Brides. Each one is different and fun and I found it interesting to see how men and women relate, especially when they first meet. There were a couple of the stories I would have LOVED to read more about — they could have been a full book if they had been explored a little more fully. I also loved that all four were connected by the Hitching Post Mail-Order Bride Catalogue! I really can’t imagine being a mail-order bride, but it’s fun and interesting to read about them. Another great thing about the book, is that while each story involves Christ… none of them outright, throw it in your face. It makes this book a great one to lend to your friends who maybe aren’t Christians but are open to reading a faith-based

DON’T MISS THE GLOSSARY OF MAIL ORDER ADVERTISING TERMS ON PAGE 98 GUARANTEED TO BRING A STITCH OR TWO!

In 1870 Mail Order Brides seemed a perfectly normal way to seek a mate, not unlike lonesome hearts seeking their soul mate through online search these days.

In the four novellas compiled in ‘A Bride For All Seasons’, Melvin Hitchcok, Editor of The Hitching Post Mail Order Bride catalogue ‘for the discerning, lonely, or desperate’ might just offer the answer for the four men who placed their advertisement in hopes of meeting the lady of their dreams.
Melvin however decides to play Cupid and unbeknown to all parties involved edits their correspondence, at times with hilarious, even dramatic results.

This was such a fun novella collection! I loved the premise of the book and I really like the four authors so I was super excited for the chance to review it! I couldn’t believe the things the man moderating the letters edited from each couple’s letters but in the end it worked out and was actually kinda amusing!

A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS

This book is a collection for four novellas by the authors listed above that are easy to read, enjoyable and entertaining. The female characters are strong and sassy, but God-fearing too. The male characters think they know what they want in a woman, but bow to God’s greater wisdom in giving them the women they need.

FUN READ!

I just wish I could find out more beyond the short romance to each story. Each of them are entirely separate from each other, the only connection is the newspaper with the mail order brides and the sneaky editor. I liked the overall flow of the collection and it was put together in a fun way. While this is not my all time favorite I give it four stars.

A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS

I could favorably describe any of these stories because they’re all unique; however, they all include well-meaning, loving, faith-filled people. I wish my nieces and their friends could meet good guys like these who want to “properly court” them. In the last story, David, thinking he’s dying, won’t make Megan his wife. When he knows that he’s getting better, Megan complains that she doesn’t want to “go over the ranch accounts again” as he pulls her into the bedroom. Romantic but clean…the stories respect their audiences. As David says, learning some lessons can be much better than learning to ride a horse. Learning to love the mail-order brides is easy!

A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS-LOVE YEAR ROUND IN 4 CHARMING NOVELLAS

A Bride for All Seasons is sweet romance combined with the raw elements of outlaws, sickness, bitter cold weather and heartache. I could almost feel the desperation of the characters as they struggled with matters of the heart.

A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is four individual tales of Mail-Order Brides. Each one is different and fun and I found it interesting to see how men and women relate, especially when they first meet. There were a couple of the stories I would have LOVED to read more about — they could have been a full book if they had been explored a little more fully. I also loved that all four were connected by the Hitching Post Mail-Order Bride Catalogue! I really can’t imagine being a mail-order bride, but it’s fun and interesting to read about them.

A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS

This book had three of my favorite authors in it, and it sounded like a fun read. I did enjoy it, loved the humor, and the premise. I won’t tell you which story was my favorite and which wasn’t, but I enjoyed the whole book and recommend it to anyone who loves novellas filled with historical romances and humor.

BEAUTIFUL STORIES BY FOUR TALENTED AUTHORS

A Bride for All Seasons is an anthology of four stories by four talented authors. While none of the stories are connected to each other by character or setting, they are connected by “The Hitching Post”, a mail order bride catalog. Mr. Melvin Hitchcock, the owner and editor has a knack of ‘knowing’ just what each person is really looking for in a bride or groom. Because of this knack he tends to ‘tweak’ each letter that crosses his desk.

This was an extremely delightful read that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys reading good clean historical fiction!

A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS..

What happens when you combine women willing to travel to wed,
men needing helpmeets in a male dominated pioneer world,
The Hitching Post Mail Order Bride Catalog,
and four talented romance writers?
You get A Bride for All Seasons!

Sometimes gently comedic, sometimes sweetly romantic,
dealing with life and love at their most quixotic,
this collection can be called “Terrific!”
Mail Order Brides have captured imaginations for decades,
in this collection we get to watch them capture hearts.

A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS

A Bride for All Seasons is a collection of four stories by four well known authors who capture the stories of four different women and their plans to be mail order brides. Each of the women is trying to better her life and move on towards greater things, and the hardships that often face mail order brides do not deter them. Each of the stories are set in the 1870′s and each of the brides is looking for a second chance at happiness when they see ads in the Hitching Post Mail Order Bride Catalogue. However, the editor of the catalogue, Melvin Hitchcock, does take some liberties with the ads he posts to ensure that the ladies and gentlemen are shown in the best light possible and that the ads are answered.

A Bride for All Seasons is an anthology of four novellas by four individual authors set in the nineteenth-century West. Each one tells the story of a couple who, for various reasons, have resorted to a brief mail-order courtship. Although it seems strange to us today, many people did just that during that time, with many successful marriages as the result.

All four are wonderful short stories with the central theme of the mail-order bride. While the book is within the Christian fiction genre, they are not too sappy or saccharine-sweet, but just light-hearted examples of historical romance.

WILL THEY REALLY FIND TRUE LOVE?

I enjoyed each of the novellas. The plots, as well as the characters, were well developed, even though each book contained about 100 pages. I found myself turning the pages of each book to see how the characters would work things out despite Melvin’s interference. Because we know they somehow will, it’s the how we must discover! I don’t know if I have a true favorite out of the four novellas, but, I do have a favorite character, which happens to be a mule named Prudy who makes her appearance in An Ever After Summer

LOVELY ROMANCE – TIMES FOUR!

This is a darling book about four mail-order brides who meet their intended and it’s not quite what they were expecting. There are surprises in store for the husbands-to-be, also!

The owner of the Hitching Post Mail-Order Bride Catalog is owned by Melvin Hitchcock who believes he has a gift for rewriting the letters and matching up the right woman with the right man. Trouble is, he has the tendency to leave out crucial information as he’s doing the rewriting!

A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS

If you like reading clean historical romance books and enjoy mail-order bride stories then this book is for you. It is a sweet collection of four novellas by four different authors: And Then Came Spring by Margaret Brownley, An Ever After Summer by Debra Clopton, Autumn’s Angel by Robin Lee Hatcher, and Winter Wedding Bells by Mary Connealy about four women whose lives were irrevocably changed by becoming a mail-order bride – when times were hard out west and women were few. Each story represents a different season in 1870 I loved them all! I loved the fact that all four mail-order bride stories are tied together by the common bond of Melvin Hitchcock from The Hitching Post, a mail-order bride catalogue with a high rate of successful marriages. None of the couples in the four novellas are matched up as they expected to be, when Hitchcock takes it upon himself to play cupid of sorts. This book is loads of fun and very entertaining to read. You cannot wait until the next calamity occurs. It is not an epic read but it is good for an afternoon to drift into the life of four mail-order brides. It is delightful. There are three discussion questions for each novella in the back. This would be a great Book Club read!

A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS

Each novella takes on a different season and different characters for their stories. But they all have one thing in common….Mr. Hitchcock. He tends to leave some of the most important information out of his letters that he writes to those intended for each other. However, in each case, he turns out to be right about the match that he had made by only reading letters.

Each author flowed seamlessly from one story to the next. As I read the 4 stories, I never felt like I was reading 4 completely different authors. I was quite impressed! Instead, I felt like I was reading one continuous story that had major sections in the book. That’s quite a feat to pull off when you’re talking about 4 different authors, each with their own writing style.

MAIL ORDER BRIDES MADE THIS A MUST READ FOR ME

As someone who enjoys historical fiction that revolves around Mail Order Brides this book was a fantastic read for me. Each story had a few twists that made them unique, from a bride who travels to her intended to find him being buried as she arrives, to the man who thinks he is dying and therefore needs a mother for his children. I loved the characters in each of the stories, and found myself laughing on more than one occasion. The antics of Melvin really were funny!

REVIEW – BRIDES FOR ALL SEASONS

I have read a few other mail-order bride historical romances, but A Bride For All Seasons is now my favorite, thanks to four great writers who have each woven together great characters and creative plots. I can’t choose a favorite between them as they are all well-written. Overall, A Bride For All Seasons is a wonderful read and I recommend it other readers.

I absolutely loved these stories! Of course, I have my favorite seasons and I really love reading stories set in those times. I loved each of the “seasons” and I love that each one brings on a different setting and details. This book makes a great, easy read and I loved reading it.I recommend this book to all women who love easy, enjoyable, romance stories.

“A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS” REVIEW

A Bride for All Seasons has something for everybody. With faithful characters and not, some interested in love and others running from it, from robust cowboys to opera singers and those just shy of dying, there’s a character for everyone in this anthology.

My favorites, of course, were Mary-Jo and Ellie. I love their pluckiness in the face of diversity, and Megan comes in hard on their heels for just the same reason. Their sheer determination and grit reminds me of just how easy many of us find basic life now – and how blessed we are if we have made our own love match.

A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS – THE MAIL-ORDER BRIDE COLLECTION

Each of the stories by these well known authors makes for an opportunity to escape to a simpler era. So pick up a glass of iced tea and settle down for a year’s worth of mail-order bride stories. You won’t be disappointed.

A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS

This was such a fun book to read, since it offered four different stories. While the central theme was mail order brides and the matchmaking publisher who helped the romances along, the characters and situations varied. I found the stories humorous and light-hearted, and this book made for a pleasant read. Each author did a great job, and I highly recommend this book.

BEDTIME STORIES FOR ROMANTICS

When the meddling editor of Hitching Post Mail Order Bride Catalog assumes he knows what-or whom-is best for his clients, hilarity and disaster are bound to ensue. A Bride for All Seasons brings together some of the best Western historical romance inspy authors to bring bedtime length adventurous and amorous stories. All four stories, although unique in author voice and message, follow the premise of love found in the unusual and pressing circumstances and often to the chagrin of the characters who had resolved themselves to convenience over affection. The perfect segue between novels or a relaxing interlude after a busy day, this collection of novellas has something for every romantic reader.

A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS

A Bride for All Seasons is a book written by four authors who take on each of the four seasons and write a love story about a woman who has been a Mail Order Bride in the Hitching post! I remember learning and reading about these Mail Order Brides in my history class, but never imagined what it would be like…neither would have thought about the stress and anxiety that a woman would go through! These women were definitely courageous as they would leave all they are familiar with to forge a new life with a new husband far away from home. Not to mention what if a man or woman lied or overly exaggerated the “good” or left out the bad? I feel like tough times did in fact call for extreme measures….but wow, this book made me giddy and dream of what it was like back in those days!

PERFECT SUMMER READING!

When you get a chance to read a collection of Novellas written by some of your favorite Christian historical fiction authors, you can bet I could not pass this up! I absolutely loved A Bride for All Seasons. There is a little something for everyone with romance, twists, and a plethora of historical references to keep you reading late into the night.

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

I am reading A Bride for All Seasons. This is a completion of 4 books by 4 separate authors. Each one taking a different season to tell the story of the different women that were found in a mail order bride catalog. I have been blessed to have read each author in other books they have penned. But they have managed to make one flowing book with each of their stories. Fluff? Yeah, sure is. The kind of fluff that I lay in bed and read while dreaming of times gone by. Not always easy lives yet very worth while when they are shared with the one you love.

MAIL ORDER BRIDES!

If you are a hopeless romantic and love romance stories, then this book has a collection of four different stories told by four different women and how they became Mail Order Brides. It’s also a story about four different men and what they expected out of this arrangement.

For instance, David in Winter Wedding Bells, wants to make sure someone is looking out for his sons when he is gone. I don’t think this was an all bad situation for everyone, they all needed or wanted something in return, which is a good thing, I guess if you have no other options left. I understand from history that this was a hard time for families who lived out west.

Women were of short supply or they died in childbirth or before from illness.

A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS – A COLLECTION

Although there are quite a few Mail Order Bride collections around, this one is different in that the editor of the catalog takes it upon himself to “correct” and edit not only the advertisements that are bought and paid for by the men looking for wives, but also their correspondence with each other. This makes for an amusing read for us, and dilemmas for the characters.

I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS!

Overall, I enjoyed reading all of the novellas and loved three of them. I definitely recommend A Bride for All Seasons – it had great characters, romance, and humor! If you enjoy historical reads (especially mail-order bride ones), I think you will like A Bride for All Seasons.

A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS: THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE COLLECTION

All of the stories in here are based on one man Hitchcock’s Hitching Post mail-order bride catalogue. It is funny and a great starting point. After the end of the stories there is a section with reader discussion questions and then a five way interview which is delightful to read and see where these authors came from and how they became connected on this opportunity to write a collection book. I give it four out of five stars, because one story just wasn’t for me, but the rest I loved!